Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

Alric wished they were alone so he could show Cameron how very impulsive he could be, but they were getting away from their topic and Alric had to be careful. There was no proof Cameron was his mate. He couldn’t stake a claim and muddle things when Cameron could so easily belong to one of his people. No one would cross him because he was the king, but nothing could make Alric deny one of his people the happiness of finding their mate, even if it meant giving up Cameron’s smiles.

“We were talking about mixing of the clans, I believe,” Alric said a little stiffly, putting them back on track. “Yes, it was rare, but more common now. With our numbers so greatly reduced, we had to band together for our own protection. There are two main clans now—the Fire Clan here in Europe and the Ice Clan in Brazil. We have Ravi of the Wind Clan, and it’s my understanding that the Ice Clan has also taken in a few dragons not of their clan.”

“That’s it?” Cameron demanded in horror.

“There’s the Lost Clan,” Baldewin added, and Alric couldn’t stop the scoffing noise that jumped from his throat.

“That’s more legend now than fact,” Alric muttered.

Baldewin frowned. “Some would say the same about the lost mage clans.” He made a small motion of his hand, waving it toward the seated mage right in front of him. Alric sighed and had to reluctantly agree his friend had a point.

“What? What’s the Lost Clan?”

“After the war, a group of dragons from a number of different clans banded together and flew far from here. They said they wanted to get as far from the memory of this tragedy as they possibly could. But that also meant moving away from their home territory as well as known locations for mages. It’s been centuries since we’ve heard from any of them, and there’s no proof that they even exist any longer.”

Alric stared at his now cold tea, images of that blood-drenched day flashing through his head. They had all been tired, bloody, and heartbroken at the end of the fight. They’d all suffered great losses and knew more losses were on the horizon with the absolute decimation of the mage clans. A part of Alric had wanted to fly off with them that day. To his great shame, he had to admit to himself that it wasn’t solely his duty that kept him in Europe with his clan. The inability to fly had kept him just as grounded.

“The Lost Clan contains members of all the dragon clans. Or at least, it did when it was formed,” Alric forced himself to continue.

“You…you remember it, don’t you? You were there.” Cameron’s tone was a sweet mix of compassion, horror, and awe. He reached across the table and placed his hand over Alric’s left in a gesture of empathy, but Alric could not stop his flinch at Cameron touching his scarred hand. Cameron immediately withdrew his hand and Alric cursed himself. Cameron hadn’t caused any pain, but those scars were an embarrassment. A constant reminder of his weakness and shortcomings as a leader and a dragon.

“Yes, I fought in the war. So did Baldewin. We were young dragons.”

Baldewin flashed him a small smile. “We’re still considered young dragons by some.”

“But we weren’t the only ones to survive,” Alric said gently, looking directly at Cameron.

The young man fidgeted in his chair, his eyes darting from Baldewin to Alric. “What?”

“Your clan obviously survived as well. You said yourself that your grandmother linked you to the Noh Clan. You’re a mage, Cameron.”

Cameron laughed, high-pitched and wobbly. He stood suddenly, rubbing his hands on his pants as if his palms were suddenly sweaty. “Yeah, no. That’s…I mean…in the car here, I told you that I’ve never done any magic. I can’t feel any magic. And my grandmother—don’t get me wrong, I love my grandmother—but she’s crazy. She’s told my sister and me insane stories all our lives.” He sat down in his chair again, his butt seeming to just barely catch the edge. Leaning forward, he stared intensely at Alric. “Take my parents, for example. There is absolutely nothing magical about my parents. They are as normal and boring as they come. And both of them are horrible cooks. Part of magic is putting things together for spells, right? If they could do magic, shouldn’t they naturally be good at cooking?”

“I don’t think it works that way,” Baldewin said with laughter lurking in his voice.

“Cameron, I know this is a lot to take in all at once, but it’s the truth,” Alric said gently. He wanted to reach across and take Cameron’s hand, but the man was so jumpy, he was afraid he’d jerk away from him. “You are a mage. I think your sister is a mage too. Your family could be the key to saving not only your clan, but mine as well.”